Canadians deserve leadership that commands respect on the world stage. Pictured: U.S. President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Photo Credit: Justin Trudeau/X.
Crisis averted. For now. Earlier this week, in a high-stakes showdown, President Donald Trump gave Canada 30 days to act or face crippling tariffs on trade. The clock is ticking.
To avoid the immediate implementation of tariffs signed into an executive order by Trump last weekend, the Trudeau government responded with a $1.3 billion package to enhance border security, increase technology use, and bolster personnel at key points of entry. Although most of the funding was previously announced in December, it also includes new measures like appointing a ‘fentanyl czar’ and establishing a Canada-U.S. Joint Strike Force to combat organized crime, drug trafficking, and money laundering.
While Canadians breathed a collective sigh of relief at the pause in trade hostilities, declaring victory is premature. The uncertainty surrounding the situation continues to weigh heavily on Canada’s economy. With no clear path forward, foreign corporations may hold off on investing, further delaying economic stability.
The trade war antics are a victory for Trump, and a loss for Canada. As has been the case since Trump was declared victorious in the U.S. election last November, he has the ability to throw a proverbial grenade at any time that has a direct impact on both the stock market and the valuation of Canadian currency.
Perhaps one of the most startling revelations to come out of the tariff war was a comment from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in response to media questions that he had been trying to get in touch with Trump since inauguration, to no avail.
Some have speculated that Canada would be in this situation regardless of who the leader of the country is. But anyone who has paid attention to politics since the last election – witnessing the creation and eventual demise of the Liberal-NDP supply and confidence agreement, the crumbling fortunes of the Liberal Party, and the eventual intention to resign from the prime minister – will know that it is not business as usual.
While the Trudeau government has made bold claims, it has largely failed to deliver on significant initiatives like electoral reform, climate change and providing access to clean drinking water on in Indigenous communities. As Trudeau prepares to step down, there are serious concerns about how the government will navigate the next phase of border negotiations and resolve the looming tariff threat. The stakes couldn’t be higher at this juncture.
The silver lining is that an election seems to be in the cards for this spring. And while Trudeau tries to hold the seams together in his final days of governing, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has seized upon the opportunity to put forward a measured response to Trump’s threats that also build on his tough on crime platform commitment.
Canadians deserve leadership that commands respect on the world stage—someone who can get their calls answered and stand firm when it matters. While this round of negotiations has prevented the most immediate threat, the game is far from over. To secure Canada’s future, it will take more than empty promises to keep the storm at bay.
Josie Sabatino is a Senior Consultant at Summa Strategies, focused on providing strategic insight and helping clients meet their objectives in an ever changing and complex political and regulatory environment. Prior to joining Summa, Josie spent nearly a decade in political communications and most recently served as the Director of Communications to the Hon. Erin O’Toole, former Leader of the Official Opposition.
